By Nanette Wiser
With soaring inflation and housing prices, cash is king and now is the time to train for and find a part-time or full-time gig that is sustainable. Update your computer skills online or with a class, learn to code, take a Spanish class, enroll in a certificate program, or retrain in a new profession. To make money, you need to gain the skills and credentials needed to succeed in today’s ultra-competitive business landscape.
You can reinvent yourself as an entrepreneur, small business owner, STEM innovator for work remotely or in person. Retirees in search of part-time work are in demand for retail and hospitality jobs, and if you have chef/cook experience or bartending skills, now is the time to jump back into the game. OLLI at Eckerd College also supports lifelong learning and may tickle a passion that leads to a new gig. Consider PN pal, Dr. Dori Designs, who swapped medicine for jewelry making after a lifelong love affair with art, gems, and precious stones; this year, she showed at dozens of juried shows and Mainsail.
Local manufacturing, construction and automotive companies need good people, and companies will train you and give you on-the-job experience. Pinellas Technical College (PTEC) offers many training programs for multiple careers (childcare, firefighting, automotive, television production, dental assisting, cosmetology) and more. Their Clearwater campus is launching a new building trades and technology certificate (HVAC, electrical, project management, construction). pcsb.org/ptc-stpetersburg
USF has many career-enhancing programs and good career blogs for those in or considering business and technology, cybersecurity, education, human resources, leadership and management, the law, process improvement, project management, and sales and marketing. You can obtain new, in-demand project management skills or prepare for your PMP® certification with their Project Management Certificate or Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam Preparation. usf.edu/continuing-education
St. Petersburg College also offers career pathways in engineering/manufacturing/building arts, digital design, business certificates (accounting), health sciences/veterinary technology, mental health, technology, science (biotech, environmental), public safety (crime scene tech, homeland security) and robotics. pcollege.edu